We’re wrapping up our Hero’s Journey series with a fresh twist—this time through the lens of fantasy in eleventh-grade American Literature. Marie shares how she took a bold leap by introducing a fantasy choice novel unit, transforming student engagement and challenging traditional ideas of what counts as “American Lit.” This episode ties together our vertical alignment approach from earlier grades and emphasizes how thoughtfully crafted essential questions and genre expansion can deepen student connection and critical thinking.

We also dive into the power of student choice, sharing how Socratic seminars, rhetorical analysis, and multimedia pairings help students explore themes like escape, identity, and morality. You’ll hear our favorite supplemental texts and movies, a suggested summative assessment, and four key features to focus on throughout the unit. And if you’re a Happy Hour member, you’ll get access to this entire unit! Join us next week as we kick off another summer of Camp BNT!

Resources:

• Jib Fowles’ “Advertising’s 15 Basic Appeals”
• Legendborn, by Tracy Deonn
• House in the Cerulean Sea, by Tj Klune
• Percy Jackson, by Rick Riordan
• Throne of Glass, Sarah J. Maas

Related Episodes:

• Episode 63, Choice Reading 101
• Episode 96, How to Select Choice Reading + Our 20 Favorite Classroom Books
• Episode 256, Teaching the Hero’s Journey: Dos and Don’ts of Unit Design
• Episode 257, Teaching the Hero’s Journey: Studying The Hobbit for Middle School ELA
• Episode 258, Teaching the Hero’s Journey: Studying the Odyssey for 9-10 Grade ELA

SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode259

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Ready to make your summer reading program awesome? Head to bravenewteaching.com/summerreading

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📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩‍💻

• Join Happy Hour!
• Curriculum Rehab
• Down with the Reading Quiz
• Shop the BNT Resource Library
• Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
• Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

Teaching The Odyssey doesn’t have to be stuck in surface-level plot points. It can be the unit where students are guided through their own epic journeys!

In this third episode of our Hero’s Journey series, we’re diving into how we’ve completely reimagined teaching The Odyssey to ninth graders. If you’ve been following along, you know we started this series with an overview of using the Hero’s Journey as a curriculum tool, then explored what it looks like in middle school using The Hobbit. Now we’re shifting the focus to high school—and it’s not just about leveling up content, it’s about deepening the purpose.

We’re talking essential questions, student-centered analysis, and ways to move from plot summaries to powerful conversations, like whether or not you can still be a hero if you never leave home. We’re also sharing how this unit can end with a project that feels more personal, more reflective, and way more meaningful than a traditional essay or presentation.

Resources and Related Episodes:

• Freebie: Hero’s Journey Evidence Tracker
• Episode 15, To Write an Essential Question
• Episode 16, To Find Supplementory Texts
• Episode 256, Teaching the Hero’s Journey: Dos and Don’ts of Unit Design
• Episode 257, Teaching the Hero’s Journey: Studying The Hobbit for Middle School ELA

SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode258

"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"

Ready to make your summer reading program awesome? Head to bravenewteaching.com/summerreading

Support the show

📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩‍💻

• Join Happy Hour!
• Curriculum Rehab
• Down with the Reading Quiz
• Shop the BNT Resource Library
• Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
• Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

Let’s be honest—The Hobbit isn’t always a crowd-pleaser in middle school, but in this episode, we’re sharing how to turn it into a powerful, skills-based exploration of the hero’s journey. We dive into using essential questions, shifting focus from content to critical thinking, and using tools like our favorite evidence tracker to make Bilbo’s transformation come alive. Plus, we chat about modern pairings and why it’s okay if your students don’t read every page. This one’s all about making fantasy feel relevant, engaging, and fun—for you and your students.

Resources:

• Freebie: Hero’s Journey Evidence Tracker
• The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien
• Join Curriculum Rehab

Related Episodes:

• Episode 85, Teaching Novels When Kids Don’t Read at Home Part 1
• Episode 86, Teaching Novels When Kids Don’t Read at Home Part 2
• Episode 243, THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Unit Possibilities
• Episode 244, THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Essential Question Possibilities for The Poet X
• Episode 245, THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Gateway Activity Ideas
• Episode 246, THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Supplemental and Alternative Text Ideas
• Episode 247, THE NOVELS IN VERSE COLLECTION: Assessments
• Episode 256, Teaching the Hero’s Journey: Do’s and Dont’s of Unit Design

SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode257

"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"

Ready to make your summer reading program awesome? Head to bravenewteaching.com/summerreading

Support the show

📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩‍💻

• Join Happy Hour!
• Curriculum Rehab
• Down with the Reading Quiz
• Shop the BNT Resource Library
• Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
• Subscribe to our YouTube Channel